Venetian blind



Q 1932- LE ROY J. STEFFEN 1,389,226

VENET IAN BLI ND Filed July 13. 1951 liwzntor Z12 Zia fife f/an Patented Nov. 29, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LEROY J. STEFFEN, OF EVANSTON, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB TO HOUGH SHADE COR-IEOIRA'IION, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT VENETIAN BLIND Applicationfiled July 13, 1931.. Serial No. 550,407.

This inventionrelates to blinds and the like and moreparticularly to the type of devices known as Venetian blinds. n One of the objects of the invention is the provision of new and improved mechanism for raising and lowering Venetian blinds and the like.

Another object of the invention is the provision of new and improved elevating and lowering meansfor Venetian blinds, having novel guides associated with said means.

A further object ofthe invention is the provision of new and improved mechanism for raising and loweringVenetian blinds and for holding the same in any desired elevated position.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved Venetian blind including novel mechanism for operating the 2 same, that is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and install, efficient in use, and that is not likely to become broken or get out of order. c

Further'and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the fol lowing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a sideelevation of a portion of the building with the invention in position therein; I

. Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 .of

Fig.1; 1' a Fig. 3 is a sectionon the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. lis a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the guide and holding members showing the same somewhat enlarged from that shown in the other figures and Fig.6 isa section on the line 66 of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawing, the reference character 10 designates generally a building having an opening 11 therein opposite which the Venetian blind. represented generally by the reference character 12 is mounted. The blind 12 comprises an up per swingboard 13 supported by end brackets 14 and 15 from the head rail 16 secured to the frame 17 surrounding the opening 11. If desired, one or more intermediate supports 18 may be provided for the swingboard,

'mitted to oscillate or tilt.

especially if the latter be of an extended length. The swingboard 13 is curved on its upper side and is provided on its underside with a recess 19 for receiving a shaft 21. The outer ends of the swingboard 13 are provided with bearings 22 within which the shaft 21Qrotates. The bearings 22 are journaled in brackets 14 and 15 and in the intermediate bracket 18. The intermediate bracket 18 extends about the upper surface of the swing- I board and is spaced from the same to form an arcuate slot 23 which is concentric with the shaft 21. A bracket 24 rigidly attached to the headrail 16 is provided with means for engaging the slot 23 whereby the intermediate portion of the swingboard will be supported from said headrail and will be per- The lower portion of the bracket is provided with a journal for the shaft 21. Attached to each side of the swingboard 13 are a plurality of ladder tapes 25 and 26 having the cross members 27 on which suitable slots 28 are supported, as

is usual in such constructions.

The lower ends of the ladder tapes 25 and 26 are connected toa lower swingboard 29, whereby when the upper swingboard is oscillated by a cord 40 in the usual manner, it will swingthe slats 28 into ahorizontal position as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, or into an inclined 30 position todirect air and light entering between them either upwardly or downwardly,

as is well known in the art.

, In order to prevent the slats from blowing inwardly or outwardly by the wind, suitable means are provided for guiding the ends of the slats in their vertical movements, and for preventing the same from moving inwaricllly or outwardly beyond a predetermined pat. p

In the form of construction shown, a pair of guide members 31 and 32 are provided for th s purpose. These guide members are attached to the inner sides of the frame 17 as byfastening members 30, see Fig. 3. These guide members may be of any suitable construction. As shown, each of these guides is formed from sheet metal having a slot 33 extending longitudinally thereof, the edges of the slot being bcnt inwardly in order to form a smooth edge. The slats are each provided with reduced extensions 34 which are adapted to engage in the slots for guiding the slats in their vertical movement and for preventing the slats from movin laterally. I The lower swingboard .29 as attached to each end thereof a guide block 35. These blocks are pivotally connected to the end of the swingboard in any suitable manner, as by meanso the screws 36, see Figs. 1 and-2.

Suitable means are provided for raising and lowering the blind and for holding the same in adjusted position. In the form. of the construction shown, which is by way of example only, this means comprises a windin mechanism including drums 37 and 38 w ich are'rigidl mounted on the shaft 21 at each end thereo Hoisting ta es 39'and 41 .are attached res ectively to t e drums 37 lo and 38 and are a apted/to be wound thereon. The free end of the tape is attached to straps 42 rigidly connected to the I see Fig. 2.. The tapes 39 an 41 may be and referably are contained in the guide memchanne rough which the tapes are adapted to extend, as clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing. Means for rotating the drums for raising and lowering the blind will now be described. In the form of the device shown,a s rocket wheel 45 is rigidly mounted on the s aft 21 and an endless cable or sprocket chain 46 is trained over thissprocket wheel and ex tends downwardly on each side of the blind. A suitable ide 47 for the lower loop 'of the chain 46 is rigidly secured to the frame 17 at the lower portion thereof. This guide is curved and is provided with a curved channel 48 'for receiving the lower loop of the chain. It will thus be seen that by rigidly connecting the winding drums 37 and 38 to the shaft 21 and by connecting thesprocket 45 to'the shaft, when the sprocket is rotated by pullllfilup or down on the chain 46, both drums be operated in unison to .wind up the tapes 39 and 41 for elevating the blind or for rotating them in the opposite direction for lowering the blind. v By means of his arrangement, the chain may be placed in fairly taut position so that it will not interfere with the raising and lowering of the blind, and since there are no moving parts except the chain, there .is no danger of the operator having his clothing entan led in the mechanism or becoming injured in raising or lowering the device.

Suitable means are provided for fastening the chain in adjusted position for holding the blind in a predetermined position. As shown, an angular bracket 49 is attached to the inner side of the frame 17 and has a lat- ,erally extending portion 51 which is provided with an open slot 52 for receivingthe chain.

ide blocks 35,

rs 31 and 32, the inturned edges 43 and 44' of the 1guide members 31 and 32 forming a essarily, curved. It, at least, is provided with a curved passage both ends of which open upwardly, one in front of the blind and the other in the rear thereof.

- drum means and flexible members connected to the lower portion of said blind and windable on said drum means; a stationary guide having a curved passageway rigidly mounted adjacent to the lower end of said blind, and a flexible member trained over said rotating means and extendin' along said curved passageway and guide thereby for operating said rotating means.

2. In a Venetian .blind having an n per swing board, a plurality of slat mem ers, means for supporting said slat members from said upper swi'n board, means for raising and lowerin sai slat members, com rising winding mec anism and means inclu ing an endless cable for operating said mechan1sm; a guide for said last named means extending in a plane transversely to said slat members.

3. In a blind raising and lowering mechanism, a guide member having a curved as sageway therethrough with both extremities opening in the same direction for receiving the loop of an voperating cable and for guiding the same, and means for rigidly connecting said member to its support.

4. In a Venetian blind an up er swingboard, a plurality of slats, flexi e members for supporting-said slats in spaced relation from said swingboard, a lower swingboard to which said flexible members are attached, means for tilting said upper swingboard for tilting said slats, a shaft associated with said upper swingboard, a winding drum on each en of said shaft, flexible members connected to said drums and said lower swingboard for raising and lowering said blind when said drums are rotated, guides for the ends of said slats for limiting the lateral and endwise movement of said slats, said guides receiving said last named flexible means, and a wheel fixed to said shaft; a stationary guide bei neath said lower swingboard, said guide forming a curved'channel therethrough substantially in the plane of said wheel and beneath the same, an endless flexible element of a varying thicknesstrained over said Wheel and extending a through said channel and guided thereby to the front and rear of said a blind whereby said wheel may be rotated for raising and lowering said blind, and a bracket having a slot therein for engaging a thin portion of said flexible element for holding said flexible element and wheel in adjusted position. a

5. In raising and lowering mechanism for a blind, a gu de element comprising a memv ber of sheet metal having a curved passage therethrough, each end of said passage opening upward, and an attaching bracket rigid- 1y connected to said member for rigidly at-.

taching said member to a support.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

LEROYJ. STEFFEN. 

